Tuskegee Airmen visit Memorial Hall

A large crowd attended Saturday’s (Feb. 26) celebration at Rockford’s Memorial Hall for the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military unit in World War II. (Photo by Jon McGinty)

Dr. Welton Taylor (left) and Hilton Joseph were both Tuskegee Airmen trained for combat duty as liaison pilots in the South Pacific. Taylor saw combat, was shot down and wounded during the New Guinea campaign. ca’s first black military unit in World War II. (Photo by Jon McGinty)

Members of a local U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps prepare to present the colors at Saturday’s event celebrating the Tuskegee Airmen of World War II. (Photo by Jon McGinty)